This project is an extension of an earlier scoping project CRC30014 that developed software to collect surveillance data via small personal digital assistants (PDA) devices.
The software developed enhances the conformity and integrity of data collected during urban surveillance activities.

There are two central aims of this second phase project, with the first being the delivery of the urban surveillance software to a greater number of surveillance personnel as well as mapping the best method for the integration of collected data into national initiatives such as The Australian Biosecurity Intelligence Network (ABIN) and Biosecurity Surveillance Incident Response and Tracing (BioSIRT).

The second aim of the project is to provide the post-harvest grains industry with a system to digitally collect and collate all grains pests surveillance information (presence/absence of emergency plant pests (EPPs), resistance to phosphine and fumigation/treatment records).

The project will introduce a system that provides for seamless digital collection and collation of all surveillance related biosecurity information for the post-harvest grains industry. The system will have built in checks to ensure data integrity and it is proposed that collected data may also directly interface with BioSIRT. This means it will have the capacity to easily interface with other compliant (national and other) systems and also provide a development path into the future, which could include initiatives like ABIN.

The successful execution of this project will allow the rapid and efficient use of all surveillance data to maintain and protect markets for the Australian grains and potentially other agricultural/horticultural industries.

What is the biosecurity problem?

Software developed in CRC30014 targeted the specific problem of data integrity associated with urban surveillance programs. In order to ensure that this problem is sufficiently countered, this project will facilitate the delivery of PDA surveillance software to a broader population of surveillance personnel.

For the second aim of this project, the biosecurity problem is that stored grain insects impact heavily on grain producers and handlers through decreasing grain quality, treatment costs and potentially threatens market access. Inadequate pest detection enables insects to persist and grow in storage areas, increasing the risk of the development of resistance to phosphine and other treatments. There is a significant challenge in developing effective hardware and software tools to record, track and report from data on the effectiveness of phosphine treatments and grains pests samples taken at storage sites. This project seeks to overcome this challenge.

The main outputs of this project are to:

• develop PDA units with the ability to collect and collate surveillance related information (presence/absence of EPPs, resistance to phosphine and fumigation/treatment records)
• increase the number of surveillance personnel using Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity data collection software as developed in CRC30014, and
• develop a pathway for integrating PDA collected data into national initiatives such as ABIN and BioSIRT.

Who will be the end-users of this research?

The stored grains PDA software and hardware is intended to be used, in the field, by industry (grain storage managers) and government (primary industry agencies) across Australia.

The urban surveillance software is currently being used and will increasingly be used by state government agencies responsible for surveillance management. It is also of relevance to the post-harvest grains industry for their own surveillance activities.